Octorara townlively.com
JULY 14, 2021
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXXI • NO 21
Clock Sports New Paint BY ANN MEAD ASH
Before Lenny Prange retired from working as a painter, he had a request. “A long time ago, I said to my boss, ‘If you ever get a chance to paint the Gap Town Clock, go after it because I would like to say I painted that,’” recalled Prange. Standing in front of the 65-foot
The 16th annual Cpl. Brandon Hardy Memorial Ride will be held on July 17. All proceeds will benefit a scholarship fund, which was established after Brandon was killed in action in 2006.
Memorial Ride To Honor Fallen Marine BY FRANCINE FULTON
he 16th annual Cpl. Brandon Hardy Memorial Ride will be held on Saturday, July 17, beginning and ending at the Gap Community Center, 835 Houston Run Drive, Gap. Registration will be begin at 7:30 a.m.; the motorcycle ride will depart promptly at 9 a.m. Coffee and doughnuts will be available at registration. The ride will travel through portions of Lancaster and Chester counties. There will be a stop at Herr Foods, where water and snacks will be available. The riders will return to Gap Community Center at approximately 11:30 a.m., where they will enjoy a barbecue chicken lunch. A donation fee will be charged per rider, which is payable on the day of the event. Preregistration is not required. Nonriders are also invited to participate in the lunch only by paying the registration fee. All proceeds will benefit the Cpl. Brandon M. Hardy Memorial Scholarship Fund. Brandon was killed in 2006 at the age of 25 while serving in Al Anbar,
is the school board and superintendent secretary for the Octorara Area School District. “To date, we have awarded $131,000 in scholarships.” The scholarships are intended to finance the cost of items that are not provided by the military, such as tickets home to see family. The ride has grown through the years, and it raises between $8,000 and $10,000 for the scholarship fund. “The first year there were 80 bikes; now, we average 160 riders,” Hardy said. “There are many veterans on the ride as well. We always recognize them prior to the ride. We ask people who served to raise their hand.” Brandon’s fellow service members travel from as far away as Spokane, Wash., where he was stationed, as well as Ohio, Pittsburgh and Tulsa, Okla., to participate. “It’s a bittersweet day for sure, but two of the guys were with Brandon that night he was killed. Now, they are like sons to us,” Jill said. “It warms this mother’s heart to see them have a good time and interact with our kids. They are family for sure.” For more information about Brandon and the ride, visit www.cplbrandonhardy.com.
See Clock pg 6
Painter Lenny Prange fulfilled his wish to paint the Gap Town Clock before he retired.
Clean Energy Tour Seeks Entries From Chester County
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Growing Produce At The Parksburg Library . . . . . . .2 Museum To Receive Genealogy Collections . . .3
BY FRANCINE FULTON
Those who utilize solar energy at their home or business are invited to become part of the Chester County Clean Energy Tour. This year’s tour will be virtual, and those who visit the tour website will be able to learn about solar energy and its various uses. Chester County’s event will be part of the 26th annual National Solar Tour, presented by the American
Community Calendar . . . .3 House Of Worship . . . . . . .7 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Business Directory . . . . .12
See Clean Energy Tour pg 4
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Iraq, while a member of the United States Marine Corps. Riders will travel past Brandon’s grave in Nickel Mines, where they will go slowly in tribute. According to Jill Hardy, Brandon’s mother, the ride took place in 2020 during the pandemic, but it was moved to the Gap Community Center to allow for more social distancing. “We did it a little differently. We offered grab-and-go lunches, and the doughnuts were bagged,” she said. “We still had a good turnout, and people enjoyed it.” She noted that the same safety precautions will be in place this year. Local fire companies and police departments will be on hand to ensure the riders’ safety. Residents of area neighborhoods are welcome to cheer on the riders as they pass by. “We pray about the weather and the safety of the riders,” Hardy said. “Weather is everything when it comes to motorcycles.” Jill and her husband, Warren, started the ride and the scholarship fund as a way to honor their son, a graduate of the Octorara Area School District.”We give $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors who are entering the military,” said Jill who
tower that houses the 1872 Seth Thomas clock, Prange said Phil Hursh of Hursh Painting Company remembered the request. On June 2, with about a month left to work, Prange spent the day high in the air priming the tower, which is located at the intersection of Route 41 and Bridge Street in Gap. “We have three sides done at this point,” said Prange, who noted that the next day thunderstorms were predicted. “Friday or Monday we will be back,” said Prange. “We will prime the last side, put finish coats on, and then start trimming out.” Prange noted that the paint should continue to look good for about eight to 10 years. Kathy Stern, secretary/treasurer of the Gap Town Clock Association, said that she let Prange choose the colors for the clock tower, which are traditional white with green trim on the window surrounds, the bottom and top of the tower, and the cornice at the bell housing. She said the group had considered maroon trim, but Prange was concerned that would fade too quickly.